A 7277: Establishes the interagency elder justice task force consisting of representatives of state agencies whose work involves elder justice to create greater collaboration and develop overarching strategies, systems, and programs with a goal of protecting older adults from abuse and mistreatment.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 7277 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN ASSEMBLY March 21, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. BICHOTTE HERMELYN -- read once and referred to the Committee on Aging AN ACT to amend the elder law, in relation to establishing the intera- gency elder justice task force; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The elder law is amended by adding a new section 226 to 2 read as follows: 3 § 226. Interagency elder justice task force. 1. There is hereby 4 created within the office an interagency elder justice task force 5 consisting of representatives of state agencies whose work involves 6 elder justice to create greater collaboration and develop overarching 7 strategies, systems, and programs, with the goal of protecting older 8 adults from abuse and mistreatment. The task force shall collaborate to 9 identify consistent policies and programs in elder justice; and, facili- 10 tate communication and foster collaborative relationships among state 11 agencies. 12 2. The task force shall consist of the following members or their 13 designees: 14 (a) the director of the office for the aging, who shall serve as 15 chair; 16 (b) the director of the office of victims services; 17 (c) the commissioner of the office of children and family services; 18 (d) the superintendent of financial services; 19 (e) the commissioner of the division of criminal justice services; 20 (f) the commissioner of mental health; 21 (g) the director of the office for the prevention of domestic 22 violence; 23 (h) the commissioner of health; EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD04019-01-5 
 A. 7277 2 1 (i) the commissioner of the office for people with developmental disa- 2 bilities; 3 (j) the superintendent of the New York state police; 4 (k) the executive director of the justice center for the protection 5 of people with special needs; 6 (l) the secretary of state for the department of state's division of 7 consumer protection; 8 (m) two members appointed by the governor; 9 (n) one member appointed by the speaker of the assembly; and 10 (o) one member appointed by the temporary president of the senate. 11 3. The task force shall request input from stakeholders, advocates, 12 experts, and coalitions. 13 4. Members appointed to the task force shall have relevant experience 14 and expertise concerning elder justice by virtue of their education, 15 training or lived experience. 16 5. The task force shall: 17 (a) develop a cohesive, comprehensive state plan on elder justice that 18 aligns with New York state's elder justice policy and programs across 19 state agency responsibilities; 20 (b) develop plans for a coordinated and comprehensive response from 21 state and local government and other entities when elder abuse is 22 reported; 23 (c) facilitate interagency planning and policy development on elder 24 justice; 25 (d) review and propose specific agency initiatives for their impact on 26 systems and services related to elder justice; 27 (e) coordinate activities for world elder abuse awareness day and 28 other events; 29 (f) inform local and state agencies on national developments in elder 30 justice; and 31 (g) make recommendations to the governor that will improve New York's 32 elder abuse prevention and intervention efforts. 33 6. The task force shall serve to focus attention on elder justice 34 comprehensively and create a multidisciplinary mechanism to work toward 35 alignment across agencies to help achieve the governor's elder justice 36 priorities. 37 7. The task force shall meet regularly, but no less than once per 38 month and where otherwise appropriate to fulfill its duties under this 39 chapter. The members of this task force shall serve without compen- 40 sation, but shall be entitled to reimbursement for all necessary 41 expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. 42 8. Any vacancies in the membership of the task force shall be filled 43 in the same manner provided for in the initial appointment. 44 9. The members of the task force shall be appointed no later than one 45 hundred and twenty days after the effective date of this section. 46 § 2. Within one year of the effective date of this act, in carrying 47 out its functions, the interagency elder justice task force shall hold 48 five public hearings around the state to foster discussions and conduct 49 formal public hearings with requisite public notice to solicit input and 50 recommendations from statewide and regional stakeholder interests. Such 51 task force shall also accept public input in writing. Such task force 52 may utilize remote access such as web conferencing to comply with the 53 provisions of this section. 54 § 3. Within two years of the effective date of this act the interagen- 55 cy elder justice task force shall report its findings and recommenda- 56 tions to the governor, the temporary president of the senate and the 
 A. 7277 3 1 speaker of the assembly and shall publicize its findings on the office 2 for the aging website. 3 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be 4 deemed repealed 3 years after such effective date.